Singapore-based Eastwest Public Relations will be bringing the Virtual Press Office (VPO), an
official online press office for more than 75 of the largest U.S. trade
shows, to Asia.
In a one-year licensing agreement with Virtual Press Office Inc., Eastwest
will market the service in Asia, specifically in Singapore, Japan, Hong
Kong, China, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Malaysia, North Korea, South
Korea, North Taiwan, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, India,
Indonesia, and the Philippines.
VPO will be officially launched in Singapore during Comdex Asia ’99 on June 22.
By bringing VPO to Asia, Eastwest aims to simplify the news gathering
process for the media in Asia and provide Asian exhibitors with detailed
reports of editors’ interests and responses to exhibitors’ press kits
on-site or via the Internet.
Eastwest will display event exhibitors’ media kits at VPO’s
Web site up to 30 days in advance of the event and one year after for
journalists’ access. Vendors pay S$800 (US$470) for posting six
documents of any length on the site for 12 months.
Besides press releases and invitations for press conferences and social
events, the latest news from Business Wire can also be accessed.
VPO’s Web site has an estimated media list of 6,500 journalists in 70
countries of which 1,100 journalists are in Asia, and 2,500 corporate
clients.
“Of the 6500 journalists, some 34 percent are outside the USA, and nearly
20 percent of
this group are registered as journalists in Asia. It is our target to add
another 600 journalists to make this a more comprehensive database,” said
Jim James, director of Eastwest.
“In terms of events, it our objective to be the official on-line press
office for 20 of the region’s largest events over the course of the year.”
The agreement with VPO Inc was confirmed in May this year and Eastwest is
in the process of producing its marketing materials for the Singapore
market.
“This partnership between Virtual Press Office Inc and Eastwest Public
Relations represents an exciting expansion of VPO’s press-kit management
services into the Asian market,” said Tom Cherry, CEO and co-founder of
Virtual Press Office.
